Southwest Sunday 21st December Exmoor–Dartmoor Drive+Carve
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:17 pm
The plan is a big pre-planned drive, on some of the most challenging and scenic roads in the country, across two national parks, we’ll even go past Dartmoor prison! I’ve planned regular stops to allow people to re-group, and set off again in convoy. Eventually we’ll get to the Plume Of Feathers (pub with big enough car park and good food) in Princetown on Dartmoor where we’ll stop and have a carvery and drinks. Either or, but non alcoholic as you’ll need your wits!!! Carvery is £7.95, a kids carvery is £4.95. I need two weeks to book the food, no payment is required, it’s just they won’t have space for us! You don’t have to eat if you don’t want to, but I certainly will it was very good!
It’s a long drive, so please try and start with enough fuel, it’ll be a lot easier to keep together, there are only two petrol stations en-route! I’d like to add that people are welcome to leave before the end, or to meet us along the way at one of the stops, please advise if you are planning do this so we can be sure to collect you!
I will print off directions for everyone who puts their name down, but bring a map it will needed if you lose the convoy!
So close to X-mas the roads will be almost empty it will make progress very much easier!
I’ve driven the route today and every mile is just fantastic!
Look forward to seeing you! Alex
The meet point is Bishops Lydeard west side of Taunton
Follow signs to the West Somerset Railway WSR at Bishops Lydeard.
PART 1
i) Westridge Way is the meet point it’s a short dead end road, first left (25m) after you turn off the A358. We will be leaving there at 10.00AM. I’ll be there at 9.30AM.
ii) Turn left after 1.5miles onto the B3224
iii) At Wheddon Cross (extremely tight crossroads) turn right for Dunster A396.
iv) Through Dunster turn left towards Minehead onto the A39.
v) At the roundabout 3rd exit towards the sea front.
vi) Turn left before McDonalds (with drive-through), then immediately right into large car park for first waiting point.
Part 2
i) Back to the A39, 3rd exit on roundabout towards Porlock and Porlock hill 25%, on towards Lynmouth.
ii) Stop in county gate car park (WC), on the left to re-group. picture 1
iii) At the bottom of Countisbury Hill take the 1st left immediately after the bridge. Watersmeet road.
iv) Continue until Watersmeet road car park on the right hand side, stop and regroup picture 2.
Part 3
i) At next junction take the left turn to Simonsbath B3223. (double hairpins along here very very tight)
ii) Into Simonsbath, 2nd right at the bottom of the hill signposted South Molton.
iii) Merge into the A399. Left turn, head South, towards North Devon link road.
iv) Straight over roundabout, signposted South Molton B3227
v) R/turn into West Street following B3227 (town centre)
vi) Stop at Umberleigh Village Hall - Train Station on gravel area to re-group. picture 3
Part 4
i) Head towards Great Torrington, signposted Torrington B3227. (petrol station soon)
ii) At roundabout head towards Okehampton A386.
iii) Pull in left after little chef, to re-group at Okehampton services car park (WC).
iv) Continue on A386 to Tavistock.
v) Take the B3357 onto Dartmoor.
vi) Turn right to Princetown (Dartmoor prison) continue until you will see the pub (pics) directly ahead and a little to the right. Head to the left of the pub, parking is at the rear. pictures 4 and 5
vii) Say goodbyes as this is the last meet point planned
Part 5
i) Retrace steps and head along B3357 to the East taking two left turns towards Moretonhampstead. This will be the end and people can make their own ways home, I’ll be going via Ide-A30-M5 back to Taunton if anyone wants to follow me.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
It’s a long drive, so please try and start with enough fuel, it’ll be a lot easier to keep together, there are only two petrol stations en-route! I’d like to add that people are welcome to leave before the end, or to meet us along the way at one of the stops, please advise if you are planning do this so we can be sure to collect you!
I will print off directions for everyone who puts their name down, but bring a map it will needed if you lose the convoy!
So close to X-mas the roads will be almost empty it will make progress very much easier!
I’ve driven the route today and every mile is just fantastic!
Look forward to seeing you! Alex
The meet point is Bishops Lydeard west side of Taunton
Follow signs to the West Somerset Railway WSR at Bishops Lydeard.
PART 1
i) Westridge Way is the meet point it’s a short dead end road, first left (25m) after you turn off the A358. We will be leaving there at 10.00AM. I’ll be there at 9.30AM.
ii) Turn left after 1.5miles onto the B3224
iii) At Wheddon Cross (extremely tight crossroads) turn right for Dunster A396.
iv) Through Dunster turn left towards Minehead onto the A39.
v) At the roundabout 3rd exit towards the sea front.
vi) Turn left before McDonalds (with drive-through), then immediately right into large car park for first waiting point.
Part 2
i) Back to the A39, 3rd exit on roundabout towards Porlock and Porlock hill 25%, on towards Lynmouth.
ii) Stop in county gate car park (WC), on the left to re-group. picture 1
iii) At the bottom of Countisbury Hill take the 1st left immediately after the bridge. Watersmeet road.
iv) Continue until Watersmeet road car park on the right hand side, stop and regroup picture 2.
Part 3
i) At next junction take the left turn to Simonsbath B3223. (double hairpins along here very very tight)
ii) Into Simonsbath, 2nd right at the bottom of the hill signposted South Molton.
iii) Merge into the A399. Left turn, head South, towards North Devon link road.
iv) Straight over roundabout, signposted South Molton B3227
v) R/turn into West Street following B3227 (town centre)
vi) Stop at Umberleigh Village Hall - Train Station on gravel area to re-group. picture 3
Part 4
i) Head towards Great Torrington, signposted Torrington B3227. (petrol station soon)
ii) At roundabout head towards Okehampton A386.
iii) Pull in left after little chef, to re-group at Okehampton services car park (WC).
iv) Continue on A386 to Tavistock.
v) Take the B3357 onto Dartmoor.
vi) Turn right to Princetown (Dartmoor prison) continue until you will see the pub (pics) directly ahead and a little to the right. Head to the left of the pub, parking is at the rear. pictures 4 and 5
vii) Say goodbyes as this is the last meet point planned
Part 5
i) Retrace steps and head along B3357 to the East taking two left turns towards Moretonhampstead. This will be the end and people can make their own ways home, I’ll be going via Ide-A30-M5 back to Taunton if anyone wants to follow me.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
please advise)